Arctic Game takes the stage in the Swedish Parliament

The event kicked off with an introduction by Mats Berglund, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, who briefed attendees on the committee’s efforts to enhance knowledge about video and board games. Lars Mejern Larsson and Madeleine Nyman from the Swedish Parliament’s Evaluation and Research Secretariat also shared insights into this initiative.

Speakers such as Johanna Nylander from Dataspelsbranschen (Swedish Games Industry) emphasized the sustainable growth and creative export power of Sweden’s games industry. Björn Flintberg from RISE presented findings from the PowerUP project, showcasing Sweden’s potential as a global leader in game innovation. Mattias Wiking, CEO of Turborilla, offered a northern perspective, discussing the challenges and cultural contributions of a Swedish game studio.

For Arctic Game, participating in this seminar was particularly important. As Daniel Wilén noted, Sweden is one of the few nations in Europe that lacks public financial support for game projects, risking falling behind its neighbors that attract talent and projects with financial support schemes.

“For Arctic Game, our companies and national support systems, it’s crucial to participate when questions, concerns, and praise around the games industry’s amazing work are being shared and discussed,” said Daniel. He emphasized that the seminar exemplified the need for greater recognition and support for the industry.

The day concluded with Robert Hannah, Vice Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, summarizing the discussions, with all eight political parties agreeing on the importance of strengthening Sweden’s game culture. This political consensus signals the start of a preliminary study to bolster the industry’s role in the country.

The seminar at the Swedish Parliament sends a strong signal: Sweden is ready to embrace and legitimize game development as a cultural and economic powerhouse. With contributions from organizations like Arctic Game, the path toward a brighter future for the industry is clearer than ever.